Summer Reading Thing

I found a fun way to start my summer reading here: Summer Reading Thing 2009 Contest, books, summer and reading all wrapped up together!

I looked at the pile of books by my bed (and the ones on hold at the library) that I have designated as 'summer reading'. I was surprised to see so many LDS authors.

Here is the list (in no particular order):

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell

Molly Mormon? by Tamra Norton

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

Flying Home by Rachel Ann Nunes

Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright

Seeking Persephone by Sarah Eden

Out of Jerusalem by H.B. Moore

Fablehaven Book Four by Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

Heaven Scent by Rebecca Talley

Santa's Secret by Christy Hardman

My Not-So Fairy-Tale Life by Julie Wright

Nothing to Regret by Tristi Pinkston

Agent in Old Lace by Trist Pinkston

Bitten by Robert Smith

Papa Married A Mormon by John D.Fitzgerald

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

Rescued by Mao by William Taylor

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

(There are a few on this list that are not LDS but I really need to read them this summer!)

Stay tuned to find out how many I got read and read a few reviews!

PLUS!
Bree Despain is having a contest on the 22nd of of each month until the end of the year to promote the release of her book The Dark Divine...

This week, on Anne Bradshaw's blog, you’re in for a treat. British author, Anna Jones Buttimore, is offering a signed copy of her latest novel, Easterfield, as the give-away, so scurry on over to her contest!

Queen of the Clan, AKA, Danyelle Ferguson, is having a summer giveaway every Monday through the summer; check it out!

It's summertime!

3 Best Writing Tips

With all the advice in cyberspace sometimes it's hard to narrow down to the best ideas to help a writer. 

Is the best advice about the opening?  Or the characters? How about plot? 

What are the 3 best writing tips you have used/heard?  

Thinking outside the Box

I have been having a problem focusing on writing since I came back from the writers conference.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I sat down and started writing the sci-fi story that was begging me to put it on paper.  And I was happy to oblige! 

Then a problem arose; the other stories I've been writing started in on me.  They also wanted me to work their stories or finish editing them. Their voices got louder and more incessant until I had to stop writing the sci-fi story. 

Instead of writing, I read and answered emails; checked Faceb

ook, Twitter and wrote some articles for Triond. 

But the stories wouldn't leave me alone.

As I was trying to decide what to do I remembered Julie Bellon's class (love her by the way!): "Self Editing and Rewriting."

She taught us Four Secrets to Self-Editing or the CLAW method: 

Check your most basic editing checklist

Let someone else read it for you

Always print it out and read/edit the hard copy

Walk away for hours, days or weeks.

My notes from her class helped push in a direction I hadn't about before. I told my stories I would work on each piece for one week. The stories that were near completion I would print out and edit.

 The voices finally quieted.

I have five stories I am working on: three are in editing stage and two are just beginning. I'm excited to work on all of them now.  I feel the pressure has b

een released.  For now. :)

Added to all the writing drama, I am going on vacation and REALLY need to pack! And clean the house!

One of the stories that I started I am taking with me on vacation.  The location of the story fits with the location I am going to see!  I'm excited to see h

ow the story shapes.

I'd better go now, a story awaits...

Pics from Writer's Conference

I stole some of these from the LDStorymakers Conference...... I hope they don't care :)

Ernest Hemingway Quote

"The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day … you will never be stuck. Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start."